Horrified witnesses told how a school bus burst into flames.

The Damory service D3 was taking children home from the Thomas Hardye School and Dorchester Middle School this afternoon when it started to emit smoke and caught fire, an onlooker said.

Pictures from the scene at Charlton Down near Dorchester show flames raging from beneath the vehicle.

The witness said: "The bus was stopped in Charlton Down and the children were evacuated by the bus driver.

"No-one was hurt and the children were taken to a grass area near some houses. There were firefighters in attendance and two police vehicles arrived after the initial flames were put out."

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said crews from Dorchester and Bridport were called to Herrison Road at 4pm to a bus fire.

The single decker blue Damory vehicle had a fire in the engine compartment, the brigade said.

It was extinguished by crews wearing breathing kits and using two hose reels.

A small amount of engine oil was mopped up using environmental pads.

Bridport firefighters left the scene at 5pm and the Dorchester crew left at 5.30pm.